RAU FOREST TRAIL

       

Rau forest reserve  is ground water forest  which is famous for  the endemic rear tree Ox stigma msoo and (Mvule wa Picha) oldes  Milicia exelesa of about 200yrs in Moshi town, located 3.23.S37.22.E  3km South East of Moshi .The forest is on the gentle south facing alluvial base of Mt Kilimanjaro at an altitude of 730m and 765m.The Forest established  before 1910 and declared  under GN 127 of  25/5/1951 to be forest reserve and in 1967 it was suggested that the reserve should be given  Park status to protect endemic Ox stigma msoo and provide a recreational  area for Moshi town. The forest is potential key ecosystem in Moshi town to different endemic rear trees species, forest birds, like mourning dove, paradise fly catcher, silvered chiked hornbill, Fish eagle, weavers, small mammals like dikdik and monkeys like beautiful Black and white colobus monkey, Velvet monkey and blue monkey. On the South edge of the forest tourist will be astonishing with rice plantation (Moshi Chini irrigation scheme) with many wet birds on shambas. The  forest  zoned to protect springs and stream ,biodiversity, productive zone  and  amenity zone for nature trail and recreation although facing challenging like deforestations the forest management  use stake holder like(MECTP) to bring benefit to local community,

Through Forest Policy Issue, Policy Statement Chapter Four the (MAF) is initiating (MECTP) as community participation on marketing services and eco tourism products on their environment and other untapped resource.